Read Online Four Doors Down by Emma Doherty - Free Book Online Page B

crush Lizzy had on Ryan when we were kids? It’s only grown,” Jake tells me. “She’ll kill me if I don’t let him come too.”
    I can’t help but grin at that. Lizzy might have followed me around everywhere when she was little but she positively hero worshiped Ryan. Typical. Even eight-year-olds have crushes on Ryan. No wonder he has the ego he does.
    My phone beeps again.
    Charlie: You look really pretty today.
    My head snaps up and I spin around, my eyes scanning the crowds trying to see if he’s nearby.
    “Becca!” I turn to face Jake again. Irritation is creeping into his voice. “Are you gonna come?”
    I start to nod in agreement when my phone beeps a fourth time.
    Charlie: By your car.
    My head whips around to the student parking lot and I spot him. He’s leaning against my car with his gaze locked on me. Butterflies erupt in my stomach at the mere sight of him. He’s here. At my school. He’s come here to surprise me. I instinctively take a step toward him then remember Jake.
    “Sorry,” I tell him. “I’ve got to go. Another time, though.” Then I turn and walk toward Charlie without a backward glance and a huge smile on my face.
    “Hey,” he greets me.
    “Hey.”
    “Good surprise?”
    I nod my head eagerly. Best ending to a school day ever. “Great surprise.”
    He reaches forward and pulls me by the waist closer to him and drops a quick kiss on my lips. My heart starts beating wildly in my chest. This is what he does to me.
    He glances over my shoulder. “Who are those guys?”
    I look behind me. Jake, Mason, and Ryan are all looking over at us. God knows why they’re so interested. When Jake and Mason see me looking, they both turn away but Ryan doesn’t. He stares straight back at me.
    “The blonde guy is Jake, a friend of mine from way back. The other two are his friends. I don’t talk to them.”
    Charlie looks at me and cocks an eyebrow. “Wanna introduce me?”
    I shake my head at him. “No. I wanna get out of here.” Flashing a smile, I say, “My parents work late on Tuesdays.”
    This captures his attention and a slow smirk spreads across his face. He drops his arm around my shoulders and leads me to the driver’s seat before climbing in next to me. We make it back to my house in record time.

I go up onto my tiptoes at the end of the hallway and try to spot Sam in the crowd. She’s been out of school sick for the last couple of days, and I know she’s back today, but I had to skip lunch to finish an assignment and I haven’t seen her all day. I see the back of her head at her locker and make my way over to her.
    “Sammy Sam,” I sing as I approach her using my nickname for her. She turns around and smiles at me, and I’m about to start blabbering on about my day when I notice who she’s talking to.
    Ryan Jackson.
    I immediately shut my mouth and glance past him. Seriously? He’s popping up everywhere lately.
    “Hey, Becca,” he says.
    I nod in his direction but don’t bother replying. I need to talk to Sam about Charlie and I can hardly do that when he’s standing there.
    “I was just giving Sam some notes from Spanish that she missed when she was sick,” he tells me.
    “Yeah? She needs to catch up, not get further behind by following your notes,” I reply smartly.
    “Becca!” Sam says, a warning in her voice.
    Ryan just rolls his eyes at me but doesn’t make any move to leave. We kind of stand there for a few seconds. Nobody says anything.
    “Can we help you?” I eventually ask him.
    “Just thought I’d enjoy some of your riveting company, McKenzie.”
    I roll my eyes. “Wow. The most popular guy at school wants to talk to me ? I’m so honored,” I say sarcastically.
    He grins and winks at me. “Glad you’ve finally noticed. Don’t forget star of the football team and just generally the hottest guy in this place. Or so I’ve been told.”
    I pull a face and turn to Sam. “I need to talk to you.”
    She glances over at Ryan, who rolls his